OS/2 Shareware BBS: OtherApp/OtherApp.zip/con127d.zip/econtact.INF

OS/2 Help File | 2001-12-15 | 220KB | 658 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Welcome in the onlinehelp for Contact/2.

Contact/2 manages your addresses and telephonenumbers under OS/2 and
eComstation.

In this Document you can find informations how Connect/2 works and how to use
it. We wish some fun while reading and lot's of success when working with
Contact/2!

Frank Wochatz


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Working with Contact/2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In this Chapter you're going to be familiar with the ways how Contact/2 manages
your data.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Build a database ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you start Contact/2 for the first time, you have to open a new database.
This can be done by using "Database" from the menu. Select "New" to build a new
database, or select "Open" to use a already existing file.

The database-files of Contact/2 are using the extension ".adb", this is not a
must, but recommended for easier recognizing the database-files on you
harddisk(s). By principle you can use any filename allowed by the filesystem.

Whenever you open or build a new database-file while there is already a
database active, the new file will be opened. The file already in-use will not
be overwritten but it will be closed.

If you want to know which database is currently active, press "Alt" + "F1".

You have the possibility to make automatically backup-copies of your databases.
See Chapter Backup functions


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2. Program settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In this chapter you'll find informations how to setup the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2.1. The mainwindow ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The mainwindow is divided into the menubar at the upside, directly under it is
the buttonbar, where all functions of the buttonbar can also accessed by using
the menubar.

In the left window you see a list with groups. It's sight can be switched
between Icon-view, Miniicon-view and text-only. I recommend using the
miniicons. The sight can be selected by using the right mouse-button in an
empty area of the group-list (a submenu opens) or by choosing in the menubar
"Settings" and there "View".

In the right window you find the the databasefields with the addressfunctions.
The groupframe shows the currently visible address (each entry can store two
addresses) or notes. The title of the groupframe, as the titles of the
userdefinable datafields (under notes) can be edited. See Chapter Descriptions
of datafields

For switching from one adress to the next, or to view the notes and
userdefinable fields, press the button on the lower right side inside the
frame. Alternatively you can do a right mouse-click on this button or the titel
of the frame. Doing this, you see an approbriate submenu. A third possibility
is  Call the submenu "View" from the mainmenu "Address".

At the bottom you can see a statusbar. In there you can see, as soon your
mousepointer is over the button, short informations about the buttons.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2.2. Functions of the clipboard ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you select in the menubar "Settings" "Copy Address", a window will be
opened, there you can set the functions for copying addresses to the clipboard.

You can set which fields of the database are copied to the clipboard by using
"Copy Address" from the "Address" menu.

When you are calling this dialog for the first time, best will be to use the
default settings. The corresponding function can be found in "Settings".

In total you have six entry-fields, each entry-field stands for a line. You can
now insert into the entry-fields spare-holders for the corresponding
databse-fields. Best way to do this step is, to click with the cursor into the
approbriate entry-field, and the selecting the corresponding database-field
from the "Settings" menu.

Please keep in mind  There must be a 'space' between the spareholders for
working.

You also have the possibility to insert a fixed text. In contrary to
spaceholders (spaceholders must not use quotationmarks) the fixed text must be
placed between quotation marks.

You can activate or deactivate each entry field by clicking in the checkbox of
the corresponding line. This might be useful if you want to copy sometimes -
but not alltimes - an address with a faxnumber.

Additionally you can make different settings for both available addresses of an
dataset. Simply change the dialog-view by clicking the button on the lower
right side. If you want you can also use the menu "View" by using a right
mouse-click on the button or the text of the groupframe.

All settings are saved automatically if you change the view or by closing the
dialogue.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2.3. Descriptions of datafields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To give the userdefinable databasefields an own label, select "Label" from the
"Settings" menu.

In the first group you can label the six fields which you can find in the
mainwindow underneath the notes-entryfield. The first four entries are normal
database-fields, these can be renamed (e.g. to "Birthday", "Clientnumber"). The
last two entries are fields for database-connections. See chapter
Fileconnections

In the second group you can label both addresssets which are available for each
dataset. The entered label will be shown as title of the groupframe in the
databasefields of the mainwindow.

Usefully would be for instance a differentiation between "private" and
"official". When using heavily the im- and exportfunctions, I recommend to use
only one address for an dataset (e.g. always the first addresspage in the
mainwindow) and to group the addresses (e.g. a group for private addresses and
one for official ones).

Note:  Many other applications support only one address per dataset. E.g. when
       exporting a database into the PDB format you only have the choice to im-
       or export only one of both addresses. Using only one address simplifies
       the sychronization of databases.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2.4. Backup functions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The backup function allows you to make automatically backupcopies of your
databasefiles whenever you are closing connect/2. Call from the menu "Settings"
the submenu "Save automatically" .

In the dialog you get the possibility, to select a directory where the copies
of the database should be stored. The directory must be on a partition/drive
which supports longfilenames (e.g. HPFS or JFS). You can also enable/disable
the backup function.

When backup is enabled, everytime you close Connect/ and the database has
changed, a copy will be generated in the targetdirectory.  The following
naming-conventions are valid for the backup-copies

bkupyy-mm-dd-xxx.adb

means

yy = year (e.g 01 for 2001)

mm = Month (e.g 09 for September)

dd = Day (e.g. 12)

xxx = accumulating number of the backup copy for this day.

If you have made on the 09.01.2001 a backup copy the corresponding file is
named

bkup01-09-12-001.adb

When a second backup is done on the same day, the file is

bkup01-09-12-002.adb

and so on...

So you can produce up to 999 backups a day.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3. Organize data in groups ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To handle large amounts of address data you can organize them into groups. You
may create groups for different businesses, projects etc. and store your
address data into them.

If you have not yet created groups, you only can use the group "All Addresses"
. This is a group containing every address, even when there are other groups in
which this address apppears. This group cannot be deleted or renamed.

Menu "Groups" has topics to create, delete or rename of groups. The same
functions can be achieved through use of the buttons at the top of the group
view.

There are two possibilities to insert address data into a distinct group:

1. When cou create a new address data base record, you choose a group and enter
your data. See Create a data base record

2. To add an existing record to a group you must mark this record from the list
and use function "Pick up". Then select the group into which you want to add
the record. After that you use function "Add to group", to drop the record into
the new group.

These functions are within menu topic "Address". You can also use the
corresponding buttons.

Please have in mind that every record visible in groups is only a reference to
the records of the group "All Addresses". So, if you delete a record from a
user defined group, you only delete the reference to the original record from
this group. Other groups containing this record are not altered. You must
delete a record from group "All Addresses" to get it finally removed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.4. Create a data base record ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When creating a new data base record you must first select a group from the
group list. If you have not yet defined any group or do not want to use a
special group then select group "All Addresses". Of course you can rearrange
your addresses in groups later on. See chapter Organize data in groups

To remove the read/only protection from the data fields in the main window,
change to edit mode (click corresponding button or use menu item "Address").

Then you can fill in data into the corresponding fields of the data base
record.

Some hints:

-use tab key to jump into the next field. Use shift tab to jump to the previous
field.

-if the cursor is positioned in the last input field and you use the tab key,
you activate the 'next view' button. When you press enter, the next data fields
are shown. The cursor is positioned into the first input field, and you may
continue to enter data. So you can enter mass data without using a mouse.

-Please enter complete and verified e-mail address like "[e-mail]"
(without quotes). "URL" contains web addresses such as "www.subsys.de" or links
like "www.subsys.de/index.htm" (without quotes). You may enter other data into
these fields, there is no syntax checking. But then you cannot use functions to
integrate e-mail programs or browsers.

-You can enter file names into the last two input fields of the "Notes" view,
(e.g some scanned bitmap images). Please enter full path name including drive
letter to get it working if you use menu "Address".

If you have entered all your data, change from edit mode to browse mode. Your
input is saved and the data base record will be inserted into the data base and
the address list. The company name is used for the address title, if there is
no name entered. You get 'no name' if there is no name and no company name.

You get another icon for a record if the field 'Notes' is used.

The same proceeding is used to update existing data base records. Select the
particular data base record and change to edit mode. You may select either from
a user defined group or from "All Addresses" because entries in user defined
groups are references to the original entries.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.5. Searching data base records ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Contact/2 offers comfortable functions to search the data base. You can search
within all data base fields including the 'Notes' field.

To retrieve a data base record you first select the "Find" function from the
strukture view (left pane of the main window).

This removes write protection from the input fields. Now you can enter a search
string into any field. You start searching by using the "Find" button (or the
corresponding menu item from menu "Address"). Every data base record containing
the search item will be available via group "Find".

Important:

1. Every data base record is scanned, but only the fields which contain search
items.

Example:

You enter item "Otto" into field "Firstname". The search functions retrieves
every record containing "Otto" in field "Firstname", but no record containing
"Otto" in other fields.

2. A search hit means the search item matches a substring within the searched
field, you need no exact match.

Example:

You enter "mann" into "Name". The resulting serch list contains entries with
"Mann", and also "Mustermann".

One more example:

You enter "@" into field "emailaddress". You receive all data base records
containing an email address.

3. When you enter search strings into more than one data base field, you only
receive data base records which contain all search items.

Example:

You search for "Firstname" "hans" and "Name" "mann". You receive "Hans
Mustermann" and "Hans Lehmann", too.

Searching is not case sensitive.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.6. Special functions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Some less used functions are available through command line parameters. The
desired parameter must be entered into the parameters field of the program
properties object, without slash and quotes. There is still a limitation of
only one parameter.

Business Line 2

Starting contact.exe with parameter "BL2", yields in using the second line of
the company name field (if filled in, otherwise the first line is used).
Exporting into vcf-format uses the second line for company and the third line
for department (same here: empty second line results in using the first line).

This makes sense if you have entered some special phrase into the first line,
for example a distinct title or some other information, and have entered the
correct company address into the second and third line.

Debugging mode

To execute contact/2 in debugging mode, you must enter parameter "debugmode".
If there are error conditions while running the program you will get some error
messages. You may copy them to the clipboard and email to the author. See
chapter Bugreports


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7. Interfacing with other programs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Contact/2 offers different functions to you to co-operate with other programs
or enable a data exchange. The following section describes these functions.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.1. Inserting Contact/2-addresses in other applications ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The contents of data records can be inserted by copying to and then from the
clipboard into other applications, e.g. in word processors.

You have not to copy each data field individually, you are able to completely
take over a whole address with only two mouse clicks.

What you have to do is to select first the appropriate address from the
structure-view and then to call the function "Copy address".  The datas are
copied now to the clipboard and can be inserted into other applications.

For determining the datas to be copied from an address data base record please
refer to chapter Functions of the clipboard

Note: Since you are able to input two addresses in each data record, only the
displayed data record will be copied.  If necessary you must change to the
correspondend view.  But, if you've selected the view "Notes", nothing will be
copied to the clipboard.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.2. Integrating email editors and web browsers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Yes, you are able to integrate web browsers and email-clients into Contact/2.
Just call the dialog box "Email and web" from the menu "Settings".

If your program is able to accept and process URL (Webbrowser) or a "mailtocom"
as a parameter the only thing to do is to add the complete path to the
appropriate programs.  This function was tested with PMMail and Netscape 4.61.
Remember, Netscape can be used as an email-client (messenger) or as a web
browser (navigator).

On some systems there are problems reported when starting PMMail. If PMMail
should not start as expected, please enter pmmail.cmd (from the Contact/2 -
installation archive folder) instead the pmmail.exe into the input field. It's
a batch file, you have still to edit before using it. Please configure this
file pmmail.cmd itself by adding the drive and path of your PMMail folder and
the work directory to the folder containing your PMMail.ini and the actual
email-folders of your different email-accounts.

Out of the Contact/2 main window you are able to transmit an email or open a
web page just after selection of an address. Simply use the appropriate button,
the menu option in the menu "Address" or the context menu of the data record in
the structure view. The indicated programs will be opened automatically.

By the way, this function is only available even if the Contact/2-address
contains an email address or URL. Since each data record can contain two
addresses, only the email address or the URL of the active view is selected.
But remember if you even changed to the view "Notes" the functions are not
available.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.3. Importing CSV-Data ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.4. Exporting CSV-Data ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.5. Exporting PMMail's address-book ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can call the appropriate dialog box by selecting the menu option "PMMail
addressbook" to be find in the menu "Database" under "Export":

First you have to enter the path, in which the data base has to be created.
Alternatively you can call a dialog box for the selection of an existing folder
with the ".." button . In order to avoid a further copying process, you can
directly indicate the folder, in which PMMail stores address data.  The
mentioned files are "addr.db" and "books.db", which can be found in the
directory "..\PMMail\Tools".

With pressing the button "Export" you begin the export.  Be patient, with large
data bases exporting of files may take a lot of time. After successful export
the dialog will be closed automatically.

Please consider the following notes:

Only those addresses are exported, which contain an email address, and only
some data fields are exported (name, company, email address). If a data record
contains two addresses, two data records are created and indicated accordingly
in PMMail. The group-structure will be copied from Contact/2. So, for each
group a separate address-book will be created in PMMail, where references will
be stored (thus like the structure in Contact/2). Yes, it is a good idea to
backup the files ADDR.DB and BOOKS.DB from the directory "..\PMMAIL\TOOLS"
before, because these files will be overwritten.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.6. Importing data from Palm ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you liked to import the address data base of your Palm in Contact/2, you
must first transfer the data base from the Palm to your PC. One of the best way
to do this in OS/2 is to use the software "Pilot Link", which can be downloaded
as freeware from the InterNet. The home of "Pilot Link" is hosted at
"httppilot-link.org/", for tips and OS/2-binaries take a closer look at
"httpcommtalk.de" or at "httpperelin.de/stellarcom/palmstuff/". For the
how-to-use please consult the manuals from the "Pilot Link" installation
archive.

After a successful transfer you will find the data base file "AddressDB.pdb" on
your hard disk.

Please call now the function "Palm addressdatabase" from the submenu "Import"
in the menu "Database".

Under "Options" you can determine whether the addresses of the Palm data base
will be imported as the first or second address to the respective data record
of the Contact/2 data base.  Furthermore you can determine to take over the
labels/designations of the user-defined fields from the Palm data base by
checking the shown box or not.

Please enter your name of the address data base into the input field with the
complete path including directory and drive.

With pressing the button "Import" you start the data import.  Be patient, with
large data bases exporting of files may take a lot of time.  Close the dialog
box with the button "Abort" as soon as this is switched on again or activated
after the import ends.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.7. Exporting data to the Palm ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

In order to transmit datas from Contact/2 to a Palm, you open the dialog box
"Palm address data base" from the submenu "Export" in the menu "Data base".

For an explanation of the dialog options and considerations about data exchange
with the Palm please refer also to the section Importing data from Palm

After pressing the button "Export" you will get a file "AddressDB.pdb", which
can be transferred to your Palm with e.g. the software "Pilot Link".


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.8. Exporting a vcard ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

p. You can store data of a datafile in a vcard, a electronical visiting-card.
To do so, first of all select a record and then the function "Visiting card
(vcf)" from the submenue "Export" in the menue "Address"

The folllowing dialog appears:

Please select here which adress of the record you want to export and press the
"Export"-button.

After creating the vcard you will be asked whether you want to have a look at
it. Answering with "Yes" the file is being opened by the systemeditor.

The same particulars supported in the vcard-function are supported in the
"Netscape Navigator" except the pagernumber and the HTML-mail-information. The
nickname is replaced by the first name and the last name when being exported as
there is no such particular in contact/2.

For more functions to this relationship please refer to chapter Business Line 2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.9. Importing a vcard ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can import electronical visiting-cards, you received for example as an
emailattachment, in a datarecord . You can achieve this by the function
"Visiting-card (vcf)" from the submenue "Import" in the menue "Address"

The folllowing dialog appears:

Please choose which adress of the datafile you want to export and press the
"Export"-button.

The vcard-import has got an update-functionality, which means that only these
particulars of the selected record are updated which are covered in the vcard.

The same particulars in the vcard-function are supported as they are in the
"Netscape Navigator", except the pagernumber and the HTML-mail-informations.

For more functions related to this, please refer to chapter Business Line 2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.10. dBase - import and export ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Import and export of dBase-files is not supported at this time. But you can
very easily convert a dBase-file to a CSV formatted file by the help of a
spreadsheet (for example StarCalc of StarOffice, or Mesa/2 from Sundial
Systems) and then import this CSV-file in Contact/2.

Related to this, please have a look at the online-help of your
spreadsheet-application.

Please refer as well to chapter Importing CSV-Data


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.7.11. Fileconnections ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For each record you are allowed to create two connections, one to each of two
files of your choice, for example to connect picure-files or patterns to the
record.

Prompt the name of the file including driveletter and path at the sight "Notes"
of the record into the last two fields.

Later on you can open this file by choosing the corresponding point from the
menue "adresses" (also obtainable from the contextmenue of a record in the
structured view).

The file will then be opened as a wps-object. Just as opening it by
doubleclicking it on the wps.

A tip corresponding to this: with the free delivered tool "Assoedit" you can
create, alter and adapt the wps-associations between data and programs
comfortably.

The designation of the fields can be of your choice. Descriptions of datafields


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. License and Copyrights ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This program is delivered "as is" without any warranty. The author respectively
producer is not liable for any damage on hard- or software (or loss of data)
corresponding to the use of this software.

The registration of the program after 30-day-testing-period (please refer to
Registration ) results in the right for the licenseowner to use the program on
as lot of computern he likes to, but only on one at the time.

Contact/2 uses the following additional modules:

-Address2CSV.jar (copyright Juergen Schwister)

-AddressCSV2PDB.jar (copyright Juergen Schwister)

These modules are added with kindly permission of the author (Juergen
Schwister, mailto: [e-mail]) and are needed for the im- and
export of pdb-datafiles (Palm).

As an other module the "Directory-Opendialog" for Vispro-Rexx is used (with
kindly permission: copyright Carsten Mueller, www.cmweb.de).

In addition to the licenseagreement of all above modules the licenseagreement
of the author respectively producer applies to.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Registration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Contact/2 is Shareware. In that way you test the software detail before you pay
for it. To hand down the archiv unchanged form is formally desired.

You can test the application for a period of 30 days, then the free use of the
program will be exprired und you must purchase and register.

The registration expenses

       for private and home usage 20 Euro or 20 US-Dollar

       for commercial or business usage 30 Euro or 30 US-Dollar

 Please transfer the money to:

 recipient Wochatz, Frank

 bank code 50010517

 bank DiBa - Allgemeine Deutsche Direktbank AG

 account number 0859561630

 Please use the word "contact" in the subject-field of your transmition-form,
 and tell us via email avout your transmition.

 If ou need more than one license, contact us via email and tell us the number
 of needed licenses. We will make you an offer with a adequately quantity
 discount.

 Please support the shareware-concept.  Thanks.

 Attention: You are developer of free software (Freeware, Public Domain) for
 the operating systems os/2 and/or eComStation? Then we will give you a license
 at no charge.

 In this case write us an email and tell us about your program

 In that way we would to say thank you to the lot of freeware-developer, os/2
 would not this what is it today without this people.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Bugreports ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Contact/2 has been tested circumstantial for a long time by some betatesters.
It should work without any mistakes.

Nevertheless, if you find any mistakes, let us know. Please send a detailed
description of the error (please refer to Debugmode ) with the information of
programversion. You'll get the version by pressing "Alt" + "F1".

Please send your report by email to [e-mail], with subject "contact".

Thank you very much for your efforts!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Thanks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A lot of people have worked together to build Contact/2:

I would like to say thank you to:

all Betatesters, specially Richard Huber and Rudolf Hoeger for many suggestions
and unrestless testing

the translation-team Lutz Geyer, Thomas Mueller, Roland Schmalenberg, Klaus
Staedtler (also the program-icon is from Klaus Staedtler)

Dennis Bareis, for his excellent fastini.dll, this dll gives contact/2 the
speed.

Carsten Mueller, for stand by the webspace for the betaforum at www.commTalk.de
and for his "directory-open-dialog"

JБrgen Schwister, for the Palm-java-tools

and all others, who I have not listed.